Fiorentina Sign Midfielder Alberto Aquilani From Liverpool

byDavidonJuly 30, 2012

BBC Sport is reporting that Liverpool have accepted a bid of £7 million from Fiorentina for midfielder Alberto Aquilani. The 28-year-old has flown to Italy from the Reds’ pre-season tour of the United States to complete his move.

Aquilani had recently said that he was optimistic of returning to the Liverpool first team fold under new manager Brendan Rodgers but it appears that the club are eager to dispose of the midfielder they spent £20 million to procure in the summer of 2009.

Aquilani was brought to the Merseyside club by former manager Rafael Benitez as a replacement for Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso. However, injuries and indifferent form meant none of Benitez, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish could get the best out of him.

He was subsequently shipped off on loan spells, first with Juventus and then with AC Milan.

La Viola are in urgent need of an attacking midfielder as former captain Riccardo Montolivo left the club to join Milan on a free transfer earlier in the summer. The side, which ended last season in 13th place, are also struggling to hold onto Montegrin attacker Stevan Jovetic who has attracted the interest of Serie A champions Juventus in recent weeks.